Found Deceased CA - Fang Jin, 47, flew to LA from China, train to Palm Springs, Morongo Basin, 21 Jul 2023, w/ John Root Fitzpatrick, 55, (fnd dec.), 30 Jul ‘23 #2

[roguelady]

To add to the discussion about JRF’s innocence or guilt in this situation, I think it’s worth remembering that he was a Navy Seal. It takes a certain kind of person to become a SEAL and this article sums it up pretty well.

• Men who join the SEALs tend to be young men with a "high-level of aggression" who, through discipline, learn to refine their headstrong attitude and use it productively.
• ”You're going to be risking your life; you're going to be shooting guns; your job is to kill people ... And your job is to take the risk of being killed."

A retired Navy SEAL commander explains the personality best-suited for life as a SEAL

Retired Navy SEAL commander Jocko Willink said that the type of young man drawn to the Navy SEALs is aggressive and independent. It's through the discipline of the SEALs that these traits can be honed constructively, rather than leading to trouble.

www.businessinsider.com

My father-in-law was one of the first Navy SEALS. The training is intense (understatement.) I'd love to share stories but maybe later. Right now, just hoping that Fang Jin's family and loved ones get answers. Let's not forget - it took 3 years to find Suzanne.

 

[ch_13]

BetcBM

Can we all just take note of Mark's statement...

They were not camping in Anza-Borrego State Park

When JRF's remains were found I think we can believe the surrounding area was carefully searched for Fang....in saying this of course I'm aware it would've been difficult and historically people get missed in searches.

I think when Fang talked of her trip and going 'camping in the desert' that was a broad term for visiting...exploring the area.

I agree that it's unlikely they went to Anza-Borrego to camp.

However, I don't think we can entirely rule out that Jin may be somewhere in a remote area of the park, especially as we don't yet know what brought JRF to the area. No search, no matter how thorough, can adequately cover this vast terrain.

Just a couple of examples:

This past January, the actor Julian Sands went missing on Mt. Baldy. Despite a weeks-long extensive search effort it would take six months before another hiking party found his body by accident.

The rental car of the so-called 'Death Valley Germans' was found in a remote area of the park in 1996. Again, there was a massive search, but it would take 13 years before their remains were found.

 

[LucyOso]

I guess that’s what I thought too. At first; for a minute.

Last time I was there in August in addition to several others even a woman and her dog died on a walk.

Experts warn hikers be prepared as excessive heat continues in San Diego County


BUT

JRF career military, a Seal no less, physically fit, long time resident of the area, seems a desert rat based on his home location and his clothing.

I mean what could be safer?

It would seem.

Having toured the desert with a San Diego local guy many times I’ve always found the best part of touring the desert is leaving to go to the beach. Or to a desert motel with a deep concrete pool and cocktails for the sunset.

My local guy who tours me matches his clothing to mine- light summer clothes. Our early day getting out and poking around is done appropriate to our summer clothes and our plans to later shop and eat out.

I notice that there’s always a pair of rolled up jeans and work boots tucked in for just in case with the necessary supplies as recommended for desert sightseeing.

So I wondered right off at the pictures with dear Fang looking so sweet in her in summer clothes and JRF looking like he was going to be puttering around the yard.

Although most lunch or dinner places are not formal a gentleman escorting a lady visitor would be at least in clean shorts and t-shirt? Strolling along in Julian going in and out of shops as one would do when touring a visitor would be much more enjoyable in summer clothes.

Imo, where the alleged ‘sizing JRF up to a Joshua Tree’ photo was taken I’m worried about as that’s where I believe she is on the ground and not by her own choice.



All imo

Respectfully BBM. Nature doesn't care if someone is a SEAL, or ironman triathlete, or any other healthy stereotype. He is a retired seal. And looks like he gained a lot of weight, then lost a lot of weight. Even having a couple glass of wine the night before a desert hike can dehydrate someone enough that they are at risk. Even pro-trekkers, climbers, etc die sometimes by misadventure or sometimes complacency. Or a little of both.

 

[LucyOso]

JRF"s home is a mobile home, in an established mobile home park. I'm sure the residents there don't pack up their belongings every time they run an errand or go out of town. Like everyone else, they leave valuables locked up at home and hope their neighbors keep an eye out. Just to be clear, the mobile home can't be hooked up to a truck and simply be towed like a camper trailer, and it is hooked up to utilities.

Agree. That is his house and neighborhood.

 

[LucyOso]

This is an interesting post that describes a hike into Harper Canyon from a starting point just off Highway 78.

Harper Canyon to Harper Flat - Completed Trips - Anza Borrego Desert

The author describes how far he could drive towards the canyon in his large truck before the road becomes impassible. There are also a lot of photos that give an idea of the area's desolation. The author says he didn't see anyone else the entire time he was there.

What strikes me is that this is not an area for the faint-hearted. It's not especially beautiful nor does it have any panoramic views (especially compared to some other areas nearby). And the scrambles over rocks and sand make the hiking quite difficult. I can't imagine ever bringing a tourist here unless they had expressed a strong interest in it and/or they were very comfortable hiking in desert environments.

Thanks for the article! It looks like there is a really pretty "loop" about 6.5 miles. Folks say it is easy or a lot of scrambling and steep, lots of differing opinions. Most of it is unmarked. I can see they going for a day trek for sure. Running out of water and succumbing. JRF trying to get back to the vehicle for help...

 

[LucyOso]

This case is giving me the same vibes as the linked case below. The average temperature in the area of the park the week around July 22 was over 100°F. Perhaps they went for a hike and became distressed due to the heat. Perhaps JRF was able to make it closer back to the car than FJ was. MOO.

'Can you help us': Text, calls didn't go through before a Northern California family died while hiking

A single text message at 11:56 a.m. saying, "Can you help us. On savage lundy trail heading back to Hites cove trail. No water or ver (over) heating with baby" did not go through due to not having cell service in the area, authorities said.

www.kcra.com

That was my thought as well. There are a lot of hiking blogs/posts about the loop. 6.5 miles or so. Doesn't seem excessive until you are in 100 degree weather and run out of water.

The police said they did not find enough water (bottles) or clothing or other camping stuf in the car ...even for a small camping or hiking outing.

They might have packed daypacks with all their water and items for a day trip. It is always wide to leave supplies in a car, but if they underestimated the hike, might have thought what they were carrying was enough.

If they were camping though and something happened, wouldn't the camping stuff be maybe set up somewhere and not in the vehicle? I am just throwing out the idea that if they set up camp and something went very wrong, then maybe the things they would have brought to camp would be set up somewhere. Is there any remote camping areas in that area?

That's a good possibility. Camp could be setup somewhere. And they packed items in. Or they could have been on a day trip and also carried the items they had with them.

 

[10ofRods]

That was my thought as well. There are a lot of hiking blogs/posts about the loop. 6.5 miles or so. Doesn't seem excessive until you are in 100 degree weather and run out of water.



They might have packed daypacks with all their water and items for a day trip. It is always wide to leave supplies in a car, but if they underestimated the hike, might have thought what they were carrying was enough.



That's a good possibility. Camp could be setup somewhere. And they packed items in. Or they could have been on a day trip and also carried the items they had with them.

So you think JRF abandoned his day pack? Because if the responding officers say there wasn't enough water for even a day trip, I believe them. There's no way for most people to carry enough water to last a whole day in 110-115 degree heat. Death Valley warns people not to even go far away from their cars when the heat is above 110 (I think it's 110, may be 112).

If JFR had had water in a backpack, I don't think the police would have said what they did. They would have said, "Deceased had empty water bottle" not "not enough water in the truck for even a day trip."

A person in that heat needs to carry 1L per hour. That's 2.2 lbs per bottle. The trail up to the petroglyphs is about 5-6 miles and it's uphill on the way in. I'd think it would take most people 4 hours round trip - and every desert hiker knows to plan for misadventure and carry more.

At no time have we seen either of this couple pictured with backpacks. If they did take some water with them (but had none in reserve), that's not the level of preparedness that is alleged to have been JFR"s stock in trade.

It was hotter than 100 degrees in late July, IMO. And water is not enough to prevent hyperthermia.

At any rate, LE has made JRF sound unprepared and if he had had empty water bottles on him (or remaining water) it would be odd for them to point to a lack of water at the scene of his death.

It's actually extraordinary to think that if JRF died of exposure, he did so near his own truck and without being able to self-rescue. Quite a feat to have come back from a 6 mile hike in the heat, only to collapse so near to A/C and safety. And without Jin Fang. Of course, they could have gotten lost (the trail is said not to be well marked by those who have reported on hiking it) and it could have been many more miles - but still, he found his way back to his truck - and died without being able to get inside, start it up and get to safety.

I find that very odd.

 

[AnyNameIWish]

The more I think about it, the more I wonder about this friend who reported him missing... it's just been so strange to me that the ONLY person remotely reporting him missing is.... this guy? He also said he met Fang Jin... no peeps from the x wife, adult kids (are there any?), coworkers or colleagues, bosses, neighbors, anyone.

I still hold on to dear hope she is out there somewhere. No one is looking for her in person (what ever happened to her friends in the USA who were part of the "search"? Was it only online?)so it's hard to know how the search is going in real life in the vast stretches of SoCal, almost 3 months on.

My opinion only.

Also, sorry, since he's a local, a navy seal, someone who seems fit/athletic, I find it hard to believe he would venture off to any hike in Temps over 100F, unprepared. A mistake like that is amateur hour for someone with such military and life experience.

 

[ch_13]

So you think JRF abandoned his day pack? Because if the responding officers say there wasn't enough water for even a day trip, I believe them. There's no way for most people to carry enough water to last a whole day in 110-115 degree heat. Death Valley warns people not to even go far away from their cars when the heat is above 110 (I think it's 110, may be 112).

If JFR had had water in a backpack, I don't think the police would have said what they did. They would have said, "Deceased had empty water bottle" not "not enough water in the truck for even a day trip."

A person in that heat needs to carry 1L per hour. That's 2.2 lbs per bottle. The trail up to the petroglyphs is about 5-6 miles and it's uphill on the way in. I'd think it would take most people 4 hours round trip - and every desert hiker knows to plan for misadventure and carry more.

At no time have we seen either of this couple pictured with backpacks. If they did take some water with them (but had none in reserve), that's not the level of preparedness that is alleged to have been JFR"s stock in trade.

It was hotter than 100 degrees in late July, IMO. And water is not enough to prevent hyperthermia.

At any rate, LE has made JRF sound unprepared and if he had had empty water bottles on him (or remaining water) it would be odd for them to point to a lack of water at the scene of his death.

It's puzzling all right. But what are the options here?

1. JRF went for a hike in the desert without sufficient water despite his extensive survival training.
2. JRF purposefully chose to enter the park without water, perhaps not ever intending to leave alive.
3. There was water at a campsite or in a pack but it wasn't with JRF when his body was found. Maybe the water was left with FJ or his body became separated from his pack.
4. JRF did have water on his person and the authorities have either chosen not to reveal it or there's been some miscommunication so that information hasn't been conveyed.
5. Some person or persons unknown deposited JRF in the canyon, either alive or dead.

That about covers all the scenarios I can think of. Anything else? I find #5 to be fairly unlikely, but I'm not sure which of the others I find to be the most plausible.

It's actually extraordinary to think that if JRF died of exposure, he did so near his own truck and without being able to self-rescue. Quite a feat to have come back from a 6 mile hike in the heat, only to collapse so near to A/C and safety. And without Jin Fang. Of course, they could have gotten lost (the trail is said not to be well marked by those who have reported on hiking it) and it could have been many more miles - but still, he found his way back to his truck - and died without being able to get inside, start it up and get to safety.

I find that very odd.

The quote from JRF's friend said the truck was "nearby". But that was a second-hand or third-hand report, based on what was said by law enforcement. It's unclear to me what nearby could actually mean. 100 yards? 1 mile? 5 miles?

Based on what I've read you have to walk a pretty significant distance from where the road becomes impassible just to get into Harper Canyon. So I tend to doubt he was in very close proximity to his truck. I think he was still in the confines of the canyon. (And I can tell you that to an SAR team member, "nearby" may not mean the same thing as it would to the average person looking for their car in a parking lot.)

 

[Jade]

Respectfully BBM. Nature doesn't care if someone is a SEAL, or ironman triathlete, or any other healthy stereotype. He is a retired seal. And looks like he gained a lot of weight, then lost a lot of weight. Even having a couple glass of wine the night before a desert hike can dehydrate someone enough that they are at risk. Even pro-trekkers, climbers, etc die sometimes by misadventure or sometimes complacency. Or a little of both.

Nature does care if you are knowledge or prepared becouse one thing I know about the West Coast it will chew you up, spit you out out and say next.

Protrekkers, climbers, etc are testing limits not taking a middle aged gentlewoman tourist in light summer clothes to see the sights.

112 degrees that day.

A retired Seal, career military, with a night before before glass of wine should still be a superior companion, imo.

JRF needs no defending of such a trite sort.

He has no basis for ignorance so we have to look at his intent.

Life in inland SD County, where he lived, is in the summer a survival lifestyle.


All imo

 

[Sundog]

It's puzzling all right. But what are the options here?

1. JRF went for a hike in the desert without sufficient water despite his extensive survival training.
2. JRF purposefully chose to enter the park without water, perhaps not ever intending to leave alive.
3. There was water at a campsite or in a pack but it wasn't with JRF when his body was found. Maybe the water was left with FJ or his body became separated from his pack.
4. JRF did have water on his person and the authorities have either chosen not to reveal it or there's been some miscommunication so that information hasn't been conveyed.
5. Some person or persons unknown deposited JRF in the canyon, either alive or dead.

That about covers all the scenarios I can think of. Anything else? I find #5 to be fairly unlikely, but I'm not sure which of the others I find to be the most plausible.

Bringing this over from last Wednesday - other possibilities discussed when the news first broke October 4th that JRF had been found deceased in September.

What are the possibiities? Murder? Suicide? Natural causes? Death due to the elements? Drug overdose? Accident?

If murder, could Fang Jin have been kidnapped and still be alive? If natural cause or drug overdose, could Fang Jin have set out to find help if the truck was inoperable? Could Fang Jin have been in an accident and JRF set out to get help but at some point his truck was inoperable and he succombed to the elements?

Could there have been a flash flood that impacted them, or one of them?

 

[Dhighsmith]

No there is even no prove at moment of 'they' ....so lets first wait for car examination and deep search ....and to determen the identification and death cause of John.

@mark1969 we continue to keep Jin Fang in our thoughts and prayers, offering support to assist with possible suggestions for returning her home to family and friends. As a group, we tend to be very passionate in our desire to assist families of those who are missing. Actually, many of us have personal experience with missing loved ones ourselves and truly understand the stress and emotional challenges for the family and friends. So, like it is for you no doubt, it’s also frustrating to us when we fail to offer assistance, having no solutions for helping you, especially knowing that two daughters are missing their mother. We have only the best of intentions in the questions of clarifying information and would never interfere in a law enforcement investigation but by these continued discussions of sorting out facts it may offer overlooked information that you can share with law enforcement. Hope that makes sense, online comments can sometimes be misinterpreted- I’m from South Georgia and have been told that we can create confusion as we tend to use past tense in our communications so please let us know if there’s anything that’s confusing or that makes you uncomfortable, we’ll try to do the same.

So, the primary source of possible search areas currently available to us is the cell phone information and witness statements (DH and Park Ranger per media reports).

A starting point in sorting out details may be with clarifying specific information from news articles that quote family statements: “On July 22, Jin Fang suddenly lost contact with her family, her mobile phone was also disconnected, and her social media was no longer updated.”

The details on the “disconnected” status of her cell phone is not clear for me, does family suspect or have knowledge her cell phone account was deactivated or that she lost cell service due to weak signal or dead battery?

 

[mark1969]

@mark1969 we continue to keep Jin Fang in our thoughts and prayers, offering support to assist with possible suggestions for returning her home to family and friends. As a group, we tend to be very passionate in our desire to assist families of those who are missing. Actually, many of us have personal experience with missing loved ones ourselves and truly understand the stress and emotional challenges for the family and friends. So, like it is for you no doubt, it’s also frustrating to us when we fail to offer assistance, having no solutions for helping you, especially knowing that two daughters are missing their mother. We have only the best of intentions in the questions of clarifying information and would never interfere in a law enforcement investigation but by these continued discussions of sorting out facts it may offer overlooked information that you can share with law enforcement. Hope that makes sense, online comments can sometimes be misinterpreted- I’m from South Georgia and have been told that we can create confusion as we tend to use past tense in our communications so please let us know if there’s anything that’s confusing or that makes you uncomfortable, we’ll try to do the same.

So, the primary source of possible search areas currently available to us is the cell phone information and witness statements (DH and Park Ranger per media reports).

A starting point in sorting out details may be with clarifying specific information from news articles that quote family statements: “On July 22, Jin Fang suddenly lost contact with her family, her mobile phone was also disconnected, and her social media was no longer updated.”

The details on the “disconnected” status of her cell phone is not clear for me, does family suspect or have knowledge her cell phone account was deactivated or that she lost cell service due to weak signal or dead battery?

Hi
Thx for your consideration and support....
Together with our family and friends of 2 daughters of Fang we will try to provide a detailed overview with current facts and figures very soon to all of you.... We understand that because of several reasons there seems to be alot of miscommunication by dates, hours etc ...or by musinterpreting because culture or language differenxe and yes even by huge time zone differences....
For now already a few starting facts :
On 15th of July Fang did not take train because train did not continue to Palm Springs and John picked her up at bus station around 12 am.
Fang stayed in Johns place until 20th or 21st...
Last message on moments in wechat was video message at 22.12pm 21st of july with text comment : look to the lights we will again go camping in a small village...and same video but without text she send out to chinese friend in usa a few minutes later around 22.15pm 21/07 ... normally she never send messages in that way to this friend...(this is really last contact by her phone)
22.19pm 21/07 we have (not) official prove that John entered the Marine Base by registrating his card at entrance gate in 29 palms.
Morongo Sheriff found surveillance camera pics of Johns Toyota in Thermal on 22nd of July.
And Joshua Parkranger teaced cellphone ping of John in Julian on 24th of july....
We know from Daryl H that he visited John and Fang on 17th of july.
We also know from PI and Daryl that 3 luggages and pasport and cash from Fang are in home of Fang.
All other statements and articles are NOT true or not verified as facts to us.

 

[ZVT24]

22.19pm 21/07 we have (not) official prove that John entered the Marine Base by registrating his card at entrance gate in 29 palms.

@mark1969 Thanks for all the information. Can you please clarify what you mean by “(not) official”? When he registered his card at the entrance, do you know if he was alone?

 

[Sundog]

Hi
Thx for your consideration and support....
Together with our family and friends of 2 daughters of Fang we will try to provide a detailed overview with current facts and figures very soon to all of you.... We understand that because of several reasons there seems to be alot of miscommunication by dates, hours etc ...or by musinterpreting because culture or language differenxe and yes even by huge time zone differences....
For now already a few starting facts :
On 15th of July Fang did not take train because train did not continue to Palm Springs and John picked her up at bus station around 12 am.
Fang stayed in Johns place until 20th or 21st...
Last message on moments in wechat was video message at 22.12pm 21st of july with text comment : look to the lights we will again go camping in a small village...and same video but without text she send out to chinese friend in usa a few minutes later around 22.15pm 21/07 ... normally she never send messages in that way to this friend...(this is really last contact by her phone)
22.19pm 21/07 we have (not) official prove that John entered the Marine Base by registrating his card at entrance gate in 29 palms.
Morongo Sheriff found surveillance camera pics of Johns Toyota in Thermal on 22nd of July.
And Joshua Parkranger teaced cellphone ping of John in Julian on 24th of july....
We know from Daryl H that he visited John and Fang on 17th of july.
We also know from PI and Daryl that 3 luggages and pasport and cash from Fang are in home of Fang.
All other statements and articles are NOT true or not verified as facts to us.

If JRF did go to the military base in 29 Palms and use his card at the entrance gate, what would be the reason and late at night? Did he want to show off the base to Fang Jin? Was he meeting someone there? Did something happen at the base? Did someone follow them when they left? (If they were both at the base together.)

Was Fang Jin's social media post on wechat to her family and the video she sent to her friend in the U.S. a way to say she was worried about something? Or was she just reporting on a long day, etc.?


Keeping loved ones of Fang Jin in thoughts and prayers as you work tirelessly to find her and bring her home.

 

[10ofRods]

The more I think about it, the more I wonder about this friend who reported him missing... it's just been so strange to me that the ONLY person remotely reporting him missing is.... this guy? He also said he met Fang Jin... no peeps from the x wife, adult kids (are there any?), coworkers or colleagues, bosses, neighbors, anyone.

I still hold on to dear hope she is out there somewhere. No one is looking for her in person (what ever happened to her friends in the USA who were part of the "search"? Was it only online?)so it's hard to know how the search is going in real life in the vast stretches of SoCal, almost 3 months on.

My opinion only.

Also, sorry, since he's a local, a navy seal, someone who seems fit/athletic, I find it hard to believe he would venture off to any hike in Temps over 100F, unprepared. A mistake like that is amateur hour for someone with such military and life experience.

I think about this part a lot. I believe that JRF was not on good terms with most of his family, probably due to his temper and assaultive behavior. This is speculation, but it comes from years of interviewing felons and their families (and families that are divided due to the criminal behavior of a member). I also see in public records (submitted by landlords) that JRF lived near or in San Diego about 3 years before beginning his desert days. I hope I've made it clear that I don't think 3 years of living in Indian Wells or Morongo makes a person into a desert expert.)

At no time during his disappearance, did I see any of his family members speak up about his disappearance. I am guessing he had just this one friend, who seems to have admired him.

I agree that no one (esp not a former Seal) would undertake a trip to Anza Borrego (any of its areas, but especially not the one where he was found) without ample supplies: water, something with electrolytes, shade tarp, hiking poles, changes of socks, extra pair of boots, extra water in several forms including at least one spare camel-type "canteen" or similar). I am guessing that there was some cell service so close to Ocotillo Wells and Julian (and his phone does ping off Julian - although I have no clue what it was like in Harper Canyon - but if he ever went up the trail, he surely had descended and was nearer his truck - I would be curious to see if he ever tried to call for help).

I also find it very hard to believe that he would take a new friend into that Canyon without even more precautions. I've seen no evidence that Jin Fang owned approach shoes or hiking boots or desert-ready pants and shirt. I would think that if the two of them were enjoying their time in Anza-Borrego (where they were *not* camping) that he, at least, would have taken pictures. Even if Jin Fang's phone was inoperable, surely she would have asked him to take pictures?

I think all of the searches I know about, for Jin Fang, are pretty much online. The area is far too large for any reasonable person or persons to organize desert searches. It's not exactly cool out there, even now (going up to the high 90's in Borrego Springs, for example, today). Exertion when it's in the high 90's in a dry environment dehydrates a person quickly.

Now that the truck and JFR are found, there's a good starting point (and eventually, truck telemetry) to begin ground searches, but it will likely be part of an investigation into JRF's death and not a SARS search. IMO.

 

[justtrish]

If JRF did go to the military base in 29 Palms and use his card at the entrance gate, what would be the reason and late at night? Did he want to show off the base to Fang Jin? Was he meeting someone there? Did something happen at the base? Did someone follow them when they left? (If they were both at the base together.)

Was Fang Jin's social media post on wechat to her family and the video she sent to her friend in the U.S. a way to say she was worried about something? Or was she just reporting on a long day, etc.?


Keeping loved ones of Fang Jin in thoughts and prayers as you work tirelessly to find her and bring her home.

I am a military spouse. I think possible reasons to go to a base at this time would be possibly to get gas/fuel. The gas it typically much cheaper than the civilian stations off the installation and as a retiree and ID card holder would allow him to get fuel there.

29 Palms Marine Base Directory - Marine Palms Marine Mart & Gas Station

www.basedirectory.com

Looks like the store closes at 10pm 7 days a week, but the fuel pumps are open 24/7 for credit/debit purchases.

 

[crhedBngr]

I think about this part a lot. I believe that JRF was not on good terms with most of his family, probably due to his temper and assaultive behavior. This is speculation, but it comes from years of interviewing felons and their families (and families that are divided due to the criminal behavior of a member). I also see in public records (submitted by landlords) that JRF lived near or in San Diego about 3 years before beginning his desert days. I hope I've made it clear that I don't think 3 years of living in Indian Wells or Morongo makes a person into a desert expert.)

At no time during his disappearance, did I see any of his family members speak up about his disappearance. I am guessing he had just this one friend, who seems to have admired him.

I agree that no one (esp not a former Seal) would undertake a trip to Anza Borrego (any of its areas, but especially not the one where he was found) without ample supplies: water, something with electrolytes, shade tarp, hiking poles, changes of socks, extra pair of boots, extra water in several forms including at least one spare camel-type "canteen" or similar). I am guessing that there was some cell service so close to Ocotillo Wells and Julian (and his phone does ping off Julian - although I have no clue what it was like in Harper Canyon - but if he ever went up the trail, he surely had descended and was nearer his truck - I would be curious to see if he ever tried to call for help).

I also find it very hard to believe that he would take a new friend into that Canyon without even more precautions. I've seen no evidence that Jin Fang owned approach shoes or hiking boots or desert-ready pants and shirt. I would think that if the two of them were enjoying their time in Anza-Borrego (where they were *not* camping) that he, at least, would have taken pictures. Even if Jin Fang's phone was inoperable, surely she would have asked him to take pictures?

I think all of the searches I know about, for Jin Fang, are pretty much online. The area is far too large for any reasonable person or persons to organize desert searches. It's not exactly cool out there, even now (going up to the high 90's in Borrego Springs, for example, today). Exertion when it's in the high 90's in a dry environment dehydrates a person quickly.

Now that the truck and JFR are found, there's a good starting point (and eventually, truck telemetry) to begin ground searches, but it will likely be part of an investigation into JRF's death and not a SARS search. IMO.

RBBM

Quite true.

However, JRF's body and truck have been found. I'm cautiously hopeful that FJ is within a smaller radius of JRF's remains.

Hopefully, drones will be used for searching.

JMVHO.

 

[mark1969]

If JRF did go to the military base in 29 Palms and use his card at the entrance gate, what would be the reason and late at night? Did he want to show off the base to Fang Jin? Was he meeting someone there? Did something happen at the base? Did someone follow them when they left? (If they were both at the base together.)

Was Fang Jin's social media post on wechat to her family and the video she sent to her friend in the U.S. a way to say she was worried about something? Or was she just reporting on a long day, etc.?


Keeping loved ones of Fang Jin in thoughts and prayers as you work tirelessly to find her and bring her home.

We believe it was a worried video message because it was not stroking the way she used to communicated.... I phoned personally to FBI in LA who also was having a look on the case and confirmed to me that they beside Morongo Sheriff would look into this.

 

[Sundog]

I posted this early on but am re-posting it here. Maybe this is the time to request involvement by EquuSearch. Their website invites requests from family members of missing persons, as long as there is a missing person file by law enforcement with a case file number and also a missing person file with case number by NAMUS. Both are available for Fang Jin.
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Texas EquuSearch uses drones, atv's, and many other resources to search for missing persons. Families and close friends of missing persons can fill out a form on their website to report a missing person. They require that the family has reported the person as missing to local LE and that there is a case file number by LE.

They often work with families and law enforcement to find missing persons in both criminal and non-criminal cases. They have worked on cases in 42 states. They know what they are doing. Even if they don't organize a search, they may be a valuable resource in other ways.

Fang Jin has been missing for almost three months now. She is listed as missing on Namus, #MP106467. Maybe with this case file number on Namus as well as a casefile number with LE, a request can be made with EquuSearch.

On the Namus website, they include an "Agency Case Number 092301014" and date reported to San Bernardino County Sheriff station in Morongo Basin on July 22, 2023. I would check to see if that is the LE case number for the missing person case number for Fang Jin with the San Bernardino Sheriff's Department to be sure.

texasequusearch.org

Texas EquuSearch Search And Recovery Non-Profit
Texas EquuSearch is a non-profit organization that provides search and recovery services to families of missing persons and law enforcement.
texasequusearch.org texasequusearch.org